Rajat Sharma’s journey in the Indian media world is exactly like the journey of changes within our country in the last few decades. His journey has been parallel to the changes in the country. His career gives us a perspective from which we can clearly see the history of the last 30 years. This was a period that changed the tone of television, politics and public debate in India.
habit of staying on task
His beginnings were far from the glamor of prime-time. Rajat Sharma, who grew up in the vegetable market of Delhi, studied in the dim light of railway station lamps during his childhood. This tale is often repeated, sometimes told as a very sentimental tale. But if we remove the sentiment from this, it points to something very practical: discipline. The habit of staying on task. This habit remained with him throughout his life.
a relationship built through intimacy
As Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV, Rajat Sharma not only created a channel but more than that, he created a bond of belonging. In his nightly show ‘Aaj Ki Baat’, his commentary presents complex and heavy-hitting news of the country in a way that the audience can easily understand after a tiring day. With ‘Aap Ki Adalat’, launched in 1993, he introduced a format that survived despite changing governments and changing tastes of the audience. The secret of its success was not fanfare or drama but a strong structure and the intense tension that arises when answering questions that are about to reach millions of people.
Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor in Chief India TV
This power in his voice is even before television. During the Emergency he supported the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan and spent 11 months in jail. That time was very important for many young activists. For Rajat Sharma, that time had decided one thing long ago that there is always a conflict between journalism and power. By the time he graduated from Shri Ram College of Commerce in 1977 and became General Secretary of Delhi University Students’ Union, the direction of his life had become more clear.
Foundation of India TV laid in 2004
In 2004, he laid the foundation of India TV with Ritu Dhawan. This was not a period of dearth of news channels. Nevertheless, this news channel has created a niche for itself – where the urgency of news is presented with ease, combining logic with dialogue. This condition was not small. But it worked.
His re-election as President of the News Broadcasters and Digital Association for the 2025–26 term reflects another aspect of his career: institutional responsibility. In media, leadership is often most visible on screen. Rajat Sharma has managed to get that space, while also helping create the responsibility behind it. The Padma Bhushan he received in 2015 formalized what audiences had long recognized: that his impact went beyond ratings.
Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor in Chief India TV
He often repeats the story of deprivation but not as a complaint, but as fuel. He has said that poverty did not diminish his dreams. This made him go faster.
Even decades after his first byline, Rajat Sharma remains a well-known face on Indian television. The most special thing about him is not just making change for the sake of change, but the continuity of his approach. His voice, the format of the show and the way of asking questions, despite the passage of years and many elections, remain as influential and trustworthy as before. His story is not just about his personal victory, but also a chapter in the larger history of Indian journalism.
On completion of another year, India TV family wishes Rajat Sir a very happy birthday.
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